A school in the county was partially destroyed by a lightning strike during fierce storms.

Flames ripped through an outside classroom and smoke billowed from the roof after the incident just before 7pm Thursday.

Fire crews were called to the scene at St Thomas More Catholic Primary, Walderslade, near Chatham.

A spokesman for Kent Fire and Rescue said: "It was quite alight when we got there. By the time we got inside the building was full of smoke.

"Part of the roof had to come in because it was so damaged."

A school spokesman said surveyors were now on site surveying the damage, which is said to be "significant".

It is not thought anyone was in the building at the time.

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